Obituary - Marjorie P. Smith

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12 September, 2011 - 12:11

Article Date:

9 September, 2011 (All day)

Hetty Marjorie Pentz Smith, passed away on September 5, 2011, surrounded by her family, on the farm she and her husband worked for over fifty-eight years. Marjorie was born on September 4, 1925, in Stoddard, Utah to Jacob and Ruby Pentz. She grew up in Morgan, Utah, where she graduated from LDS Seminary and Morgan High School in 1943. Marjorie loved riding horses on their family farm, which eventually led to participation in the county fair rodeos, where she enjoyed riding bucking broncs and bareback. She often won the competitions, earning prizes including a saddle and bridle. She even attempted to ride a bull once in the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, which led to a broken collar bone. She also enjoyed riding her pinto horse in parades, where they performed tricks for the crowd. She worked in the office of the Arsenal and at the Military base in Ogden, UT, and then began work at IBM. She married Eldon Smith in Coalville, Utah on April 4, 1947 and they were later sealed together for eternity in the Cardston Alberta Temple.
In April of 1953, Marjorie, her husband and their two young children loaded their ‘48 Dodge truck and moved to the farm they purchased on Dufort Road. Their newly purchased farm provided endless opportunities for Marjorie to work with her husband and children in turning acres of stumps into fields of hay. In 1966, they made the decision to switch from raising beef cattle to starting a dairy, which has provided a wonderful living to this day.
She graduated with an Associates degree from North Idaho College in 1971, and then began attending the University of Idaho, which ended prematurely when she suffered a debilitating stroke at age fifty. Thanks to an incredibly strong will and the help of her family, Marjorie partially recovered from her stroke and was able to graduate with a Bachelors Degree from “the” Brigham Young University in 1983.
Marjorie had many talents including growing a meticulous and bountiful garden, canning, making popcorn balls for the kids, knitting countless beautiful sweaters, writing poetry and baking loaf after loaf of delicious bread, just to name a few. Marjorie loved serving in the LDS. Church and spent many years teaching in Primary, Sunday School and in Relief Society. She adored helping her husband in his church callings by hosting Sunday afternoon cottage meetings and dinners to fellowship with others. She touched many people’s lives and was often found checking in on her elderly and widowed friends to find out what she could do to help. She raised six children and loved being a homemaker to her family. She taught her children the value of hard work, persistence, service, integrity, loyalty, and charity. She loved having her children and grandchildren around her and was blessed to watch them grow up working together on the farm. She spent years working the fields with her husband and family and looked forward to baling hay each summer. She was always on the go, and often used phrases like “Come on”, “Let’s go” and “Hurry up” to keep her children and husband on task. She often laughed out loud, which was usually followed by an, “Oh boy!” She was also known for answering questions with and exuberant “You betcha!” Marjorie always greeted family and friends with a strong handshake and expected a firm handshake in return. She never backed down from a challenge and met every struggle with a “can do” attitude. She was a great example of enduring to the end, and taught her family the power of perseverance over and over again. Marjorie will be missed greatly, but she left a legacy that will carryon for many generations to come.
Marjorie is survived by her beloved husband of over 64 years, Eldon Smith Sr.; her children Sherrie Smith of Athol, ID; Eldon (Lucy) Smith Jr. of Sagle,ID; Sulet (Russ) Hiatt of Bonners Ferry, ID; Saafe (Tim) Robinson of Virginia Beach, VA; Xannie Smith of Sagle; and Liz (Shane) Robinson of Sagle; eighteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; one sister and two brothers. She was preceded in death by her parents and ten brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 331 Westmond Rd, Westmond, Idaho, on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 1 :30, preceded by a viewing at 12:00. Interment will follow at the Seneaquoteen Cemetery.
Family and friends are invited to sign Marjorie’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.